Recruiting

Bedrest Effects

Sponsor:

Queen's University

Code:

NCT07178353

Conditions

Muscular Atrophy

Insulin Resistance

Muscle Protein Synthesis

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 30

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Bedrest

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this intervention trial is to characterize skeletal muscle atrophy in healthy, young adults during short term bedrest. The main questions it aims to answer are:

How much do skeletal muscle volume, strength, and fatigue resistance decline during bedrest? How much does whole-body insulin sensitivity change during bedrest? How do mitochondrial function and protein synthesis change during bedrest?

Participants will undergo the following tests before and after a free-living control period and before and after a 5 day period of strict horizontal bedrest:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging of the thigh muscles
  • Strength testing of the thigh muscles
  • Insulin sensitivity testing in response to a mixed meal
  • Exogenous glucose oxidation in response to a mixed meal
  • Muscle biopsies from the thigh muscles
  • Blood samples

Conditions

Muscular Atrophy

Insulin Resistance

Muscle Protein Synthesis

Study ID

NCT07178353

Start date

Sep, 2025

Status verified date

Sep, 2025

Completion date

Jun, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 30

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Males and females 18-30 years
  • BMI between 18.5-28 kg/m2
  • Weight stable (within ±2kg for 6 months)
  • Generally healthy as assessed by medical and physical activity questionnaires
  • recreationally active

Exclusion Criteria:

  • a BMI < 18.5 and > 28 kg/m2
  • the use of insulin to control blood glucose levels
  • a history of any cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic diseases, neuromuscular or bone-wasting diseases
  • the use of any medication that may affect muscle protein turnover (e.g. androgen or anabolic hormone therapy, chemotherapy)
  • a (family) history of thrombosis, platelet or coagulation disorders, or antiplatelet therapy and the use of anticoagulant medications
  • the presence of any unremoved, or partially removed metals underneath the skin
  • a history of head or eye injury involving metal fragments
  • have some type of implanted electrical device (such as a cardiac pacemaker or neurostimulator)
  • have implanted metal objects as a result of surgery, such as artificial joints, aneurysm clips, metal staples
  • are, or may be, pregnant
  • are wearing metal braces on their teeth.

Study Design

Enrollment

12 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Experimental: Bedrest

19 day study period, consisting of baseline testing, 5 days of free-living (habitual daily activities) immediately followed by 5 days of strict bedrest. Diet controlled and physical activity monitored for entire study period.

Interventions

Bedrest

5 days of strict bedrest. Participants are allowed to sit up in bed, but will perform any bathing or bathroom activities in a wheelchair.

Primary outcome measure

  • Quadriceps muscle volume [ Time Frame: Day 0, and 5 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Chris McGlory, PhD.

6135336000chris.mcglory@queensu.ca

Locations

Queen's Univeristy

Recruiting

Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6

Contacts

Chris McGlory, PhD.

6135336000chris.mcglory@queensu.ca

More Information

Sponsor

Queen's University

Last update posted

Sep 22, 2025

Last verified

Sep, 2025

Keywords

  • magnetic resonance imaging
  • muscle protein syntheis
  • muscle disuse atrophy
  • bedrest
  • skeletal muscle
  • insulin sensitivity

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Queen's University on 2025-09-22.